The Gran Sasso Science Institute (GSSI) is an international PhD school and a center for research and higher education. The GSSI aims to create a new center of scientific excellence in L’Aquila fostering the skills and highly specialized structures already present in the area, such as the Gran Sasso National Laboratories of the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN) and the University of L'Aquila, facilitating the attraction of high-level resources in the fields of natural and social sciences. All the GSSI areas are encompassed by the awareness of the complexity of today's world, where the ability of interpreting large amounts of data is increasingly critical for making correct and timely decisions. This is why no barriers stand between our areas of study and research, as it always should be between different fields of knowledge. Cross-fertilization, leading to the contamination of interests and study methods typical of different disciplines, is a feature that we want to be present in our activities. The PhD program (started in the academic year 2013-2014) is organized in the scientific areas of physics, mathematics and computer science and social sciences (management of innovation and regional development). Professors, researchers and students from all scientific areas are selected internationally, following the standards of the best graduate schools worldwide. The GSSI aims to activate and develop additional courses for students enrolled at the University of L'Aquila, research projects involving professors, researchers, students of the GSSI and professionals of the private sector and training courses for the staff of the Public Administration to promote the development of the local area.
